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Murphy looks to continue past success vs. Tigers

Murphy looks to continue past success vs. Tigers

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By T.R. Sullivan
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MLB.com |

DETROIT -- David Murphy entered Friday's game with a career .318 batting average against the Tigers, including a .313 average at Comerica Park. That's the fourth-highest average by a Rangers player with at least 40 at-bats at Comerica Park.

So, with right-handers Doug Fister, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander on the mound this weekend for the Tigers, this would be a good time for Murphy to catch fire.

"I haven't been extremely hot, but I feel like I've had pretty good at-bats the past two or three weeks," Murphy said. "I've felt great for a month. I don't feel great against left-handers, but I feel my at-bats have been solid. I'm not sure what the results have been, I haven't kept track of those, but I could do a better job of driving in runs and hitting with runners in scoring position."

Murphy is hitless in his last 15 at-bats with runners in scoring position and just 2-for-34 since May 26. For the season, he is hitting .158 with runners in scoring position, the fifth-lowest average in the league.

"I'd like to see Murph make a few adjustments, but he's had success doing things the way he has been doing them, so you've got to figure with his track record, things will turn around," manager Ron Washington said. "Hopefully, in the second half, he'll make adjustments. I still have confidence in Murph, that's why I keep running him out there."

Murphy's track record shows he is a career .261 hitter with a .420 slugging percentage before the All-Star break and batting .300 with a .480 slugging percentage afterward. He went into Friday's game hitting .221 with a .381 slugging percentage. He is hitting .262 with two home runs in his last 18 games with just three RBIs.